Vriesia poelmanii plant named White Line

ABSTRACT

Vriesia poelmanii White Line is characterized by its variegated foliage comprised of a yellow to light green stripe running centrally longitudinally of the leaf, with darker green areas extending from the margins of the stripe to the edges of the leaves. The variegated foliage, together with the bright red bracts and yellow flower color combine to achieve a very striking and colorful cultivar.

The present invention relates to a new cultivar of the species Poelmaniiof the genus Vriesia of the family Bromeliaceae. The species Vriesiapoelmanii is a very showy plant comprised of normally green leavesgrowing in rosette form, at the center of which are generallyspike-shaped bracts bearing tubular-shaped flowers. The species iscultivated in great quantities.

The new cultivar was discovered by applicant in Evergem, Belgium, in1960 in a cultivated area growing among plants of an unnamed variety ofthe species Vriesia poelmanii in cultivation at that time. The newcultivar was recognized immediately due to its variegated leaves, havinga generally creamy yellow to light green stripe running longitudinallydown the center of the leaf. The parent cultivar, like other plants ofthe same species growing nearby, had leaves which were of a uniform,generally dark green color.

The newly discovered mutation flowered for the first time in 1962, andsubsequent asexual propagation of the new cultivar by applicant inEvergem, Belgium has clearly demonstrated that the new cultivarpropagates true to type through successive generations. Asexualreproduction has heretofore been exclusively performed by takingsideshoots which are formed from the leaf axils after the plant hasflowered.

The new cultivar is similar in many respects to the characteristics ofthe parent cultivar, for example, compact growth habit, relatively quickgrowing, very good main leaf color, bract color and formation, andflowers which are long-lasting. As above noted, the new cultivar isreadily distinguishable from its parent by the yellow to light greenstripe which runs longitudinally of the leaf in approximately the centerthereof.

White Line has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and day length. The followingobservations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in DeLier, the Netherlands under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose used in commercial practice.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of White Line. Sheet 1 is a top perspective viewof the entire plant, showing the striped variegated leaves and the vividand contrasting bract formation. Sheet 2 comprises an enlarged showingof the bract formation, with a flower extending above the edge of one ofthe bracts.

PLANT

The diameter of a fully grown plant on White Line is approximately 60centimeters. The heighth of the plant, including flower bracts andflowers, is approximately 44 centimeters, with the height of the foliageonly being approximately 25 centimeters.

Leaves

The leaves are variegated, with a light yellow-green stripe of colorR.H.S. 115D extending longitudinally midway of the leaf. The main greencolor to either side of the stripe and extending to the non-serratededges of the leaves is R.H.S. 137A, the same color appearing uniformlythroughout the leaves of the parent cultivar. The yellow to light greenstripe is approximately 1-2 centimeters wide on fully grown leaves.Longitudinally extending striations of the main green color willoccasionally appear in the stripe, although not sufficient to detractfrom the striking variegation of the leaves.

BRACTS

The bracts are generally spike-shaped, collectively forming a main swordwhich can extend from the center of a fully grown plant approximately36-40 centimeters, well above the variegated leaves and forming a verystriking contrast with the leaves. There are at least two ramificationspresent, each of which is approximately 13-15 centimeters in length. Thebracts are approximately 3-4 centimeters wide. The color of the bractsis a bright and vivid R.H.S. 46B.

FLOWERS

The flowers are generally tubular-shaped, R.H.S. 9B in color. Theflowers are about 3 centimeters long, of which 2.5 cm is disposed withinthe bract. The length of the stamen is approximately 1 centimeter abovethe flower and is of the same color. The pistil rises about one-halfcentimeter above the stamen. It will be noted from one closeupphotograph that there is a very sharp and pleasant contrast between thebract and flower colors. This together with the variegated foliageproduces a plant of unusual beauty.

I claim:
 1. The Vriesia poelmanii plant named White Line, as illustratedand described.